WENGER SET TO CLASH WITH GUARDIOLA THE TENTH TIME

With Arsenal set to compete with Manchester City on Sunday for a chance to appear in Wembley for the final against Chelsea in the FA Cup, Arsene Wenger would have to get the better of his opponent Pep Guardiola.

The Spaniard has won five times while two have ended in draws.

The first clash between both top managers was in 2010 where the Gunners hosted Barcelona. It was in the Champions League quarter final. Zlatan Ibrahimovic grabbed a brace but goals from Theo Walcott and CescFabregas restored parity. In the return leg, Barcelona humiliated them in Spain 4-1. NicklasBendtner scored the sole effort for the visitors as Lionel Messi scored all four goals.

They met the next year and Arsenal won 2-1. The round of 16 clash in England saw goals from Robin van Persie and Andrei Arshavin cancel out David Villa opener. In the return leg, Barca emerged victors 3-1.

In 2014, after Guardiola had moved to Germany, they met in the round of 16. Bayern stunned Arsenal at home before they played a 1-1 draw in the other leg.

A year later, Arsenal won the first leg 2-0 when both sides met in the group stage of the Champions League. Olivier Giroud and MesutOzil I Love Arsenal were the scorers but Arsenal suffered a worse fate in the return leg. Bayern produced a strong performance to humiliate Wenger and his boys 5-1 at the Allianz Arena. Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, David Alaba and ArjenRobben were all on the scorers’ list as Arsenal fell, with Giroud getting the sole consolation.

In England, Guardiola has won the first leg clash in the Premier League. He seems to always get the results when needed and he might when both sides meet again. A loss, especially if it is a big one, would be devastating to Wenger’s bid to stay on as manager.